They did not stop moving until the noise of the search began to thin behind them, until the shouting grew distant enough to blend into the background of the town, and even then, Lucas did not allow them to slow, his instincts refusing to trust the silence too easily, because he knew that patrols would still be sweeping through the streets in unpredictable patterns. Patrick continued to guide them through the narrowest routes, avoiding open paths and cutting through back alleys and less-traveled passages, his awareness sharp as he checked every turn before signaling them forward, while Darmian and Lady Isabelle carried Sage Raph with unwavering determination, their steps heavy but steady.
